Driver ‘so distracted’ they pass police while texting on the highway: OPP

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) have caught two drivers on Highway 417 using their phones while behind the wheel in less than a day.

In one instance, Constable Michael Fathi had to remind the member of the public that even if the phone is mounted, they cannot be driving and texting. A photo from police showcases the phone propped up on the dashboard by the speedometer.

This took place near Parkdale Avenue.

“Distracted driving remains the number one cause for serious and fatal collisions in Ontario, surpassing impaired driving,” police said.

Then, the next morning, Fathi charged another motorist with the same offence.

“The driver was so distracted that he drove right past a police cruiser while texting,” the post reads.

In that case, police noted the driver’s phone was connected to Apple CarPlay, which allows users to use voice to text functions.

In both these situations, the driver faced a $615 fine, three demerit points and a three-day driving suspension upon conviction.

According to data from Statistics Canada, distraction accounts for 19.9 per cent of fatal collisions, along with speeding and impaired driving.

In Ontario, a driver using a phone is four times more likely to crash than a driver focusing on the road, according to the province’s website. This results in one person injured in distracted driving every half an hour.

New day, same results. Another motorist charged with #DistractedDriving by #OttawaOPP on #Hwy417. The driver was so distracted that he drove right past a police cruiser while texting. Even worse was the fact his vehicle was connected to Apple Carplay. The driver now faces a $615… pic.twitter.com/IMKrrjlAIp

— OPP East Region (@OPP_ER) October 8, 2025